Apparatus for aseptically filling initially covered containers

ABSTRACT

Covered containers are moved along guides, each cover being automatically elevated from its associated container body while being maintained in alignment with and directly over such body, enabling a suitable material to be dispensed into the open container body, whereupon simultaneous movement of the container body and cover along the guide continues with the cover descending back to its position closing the body, the cover being maintained in alignment with and directly over the body during its descent.

United States Patent 1191 Richardson 51 March 6, 1973 APPARATUS FORASEPTICALLY 2,931,147 4/1960 Bamby ..53/381 A X FILLING INITIALLYCOVERED 3,050,915 8/1962 Silverstolpe .53/109 x CONTAINERS [76]Inventor: Daniel E. Richardson, 16910 Bollinger Drive, PacificPalisades, Calif. 90272 [22] Filed: April 21, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:135,882

[52] U.S. Cl. ..53/38l A, 53/109 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65b 43/40 [58] Fieldof Search ..53/l09, 381 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,513,621 5/1970 Chamberlin ..53/l09 X Primary Examiner-Travis S.McGehee Attorney-Bernard Kriegel and Kendrick, Subkow & Kriegel [57]ABSTRACT Covered containers are moved along guides, each cover beingautomatically elevated from its associated container body while beingmaintained in alignment with and directly over such body, enabling asuitable material to be dispensed into the open container body,whereupon simultaneous movement of the container body and cover alongthe guide continues with the cover descending back to its positionclosing the body, the cover being maintained in alignment with anddirectly over the body during its descent.

16 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII PATENTED 6%3,719,023

sum 1 or 2 APPARATUS FOR ASEPTICALLY FILLING INITIALLY COVEREDCONTAINERS The present invention relates to the filling of containers,and more particularly to methods and apparatus for opening and closingcovered sterile containers which are filled with a suitable medium whileopen.

The preparation, sterilization and filling of containers with nutrientmedia for growth of organisms have generally been done by handoperations of laboratory technicians. Machines have been devised forperforming the operations, but they are comparatively complex andcostly. Difficulties are encountered in maintaining the container, suchas a Petri dish, in a sterile condition while its cover is beingremoved, a sterile liquified gel culture medium is aseptically dispensedinto the uncovered container or dish, and the cover is replaced.Heretofore, contamination might occur due to fall-in of microorganismsinto the uncovered container.

By virtue of the present invention, an apparatus has been provided foruncovering and re-covering containers while insuring their maintenancein a sterile condition, the apparatus being comparatively simple,economical to manufacture, and easy to operate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus foruncovering and re-covering containers, in which the covers aremaintained in alignment with and above the container bodies at all timesto prevent fall-in of foreign matter thereinto.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus thatconveys the containers along a predetermined path, automaticallyelevates the covers from the container bodies while maintaining themdirectly over and in alignment with the uncovered container bodies, andautomatically lowers the covers back toward and into covered relationwith the container bodies while the covers are being maintained directlyover and in alignment with the container bodies. With each coverdisposed above its associated container body, the desired medium isintroduced or dispensed thereinto. The container body and its cover aremaintained in vertically synchronized relation while being conveyedalong the predetermined path, and while the cover is elevated andrelowered with respect to the container body therebelow.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a formand method embodying the invention. This form and method are shown anddescribed in the present specification and in the drawings accompanyingand constituting a part thereof. They will now be described in detail,for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention;but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to betaken in a limiting sense.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2-2 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken along the line 3- 3 on FIG. 2,disclosing the relationship between the apparatus and a coveredcontainer body;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 4--4 on FIG.2, disclosing the cover being elevated from the container bodytherebelow;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 5-5 on FIG.2, disclosing the cover fully elevated above the container body, asuitable medium being dispensed into the open container body;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 6-6 on FIG.1.

As disclosed in the drawings, a conveyor type of apparatus is providedfor conveying closed containers C along a suitable path, automaticallyraising the covers 10 from the container bodies 11, replacing the coversonto the container bodies after they have been filled with a desiredmedium, the re-covered containers then being moved to a suitable pointfor removal from the apparatus.

As shown, a suitable support 12, such as a horizontal table, has a guidestructure 13 of generally oval shape mounted thereon. Horizontal guidemembers or rails 14, 14 are supported by spaced vertical standards 15 onthe table, these rails or guide members 14 being of generallyright-angle cross-section and opposed to one another. The guides havehorizontal flanges l6 and outer vertical flanges 17 extending upwardlytherefrom, the bottoms 18 of the containers being adapted to slide alongthe horizontal flanges 16, the vertical flanges 17 restricting theirlateral movement. As specifically disclosed, each container C, such as aPetri dish which is relatively shallow, includes the container body 11,which has a flat bottom 18 and a cylindrical side wall 19, the cover 10being adapted to fit across and over the container body and having aflat, upper closure portion 20 and a depending cylindrical skirt 21integral therewith adapted to occupy a position extending downwardlyover the upper portion of the body wall 19. The diameter of the cover isslightly greater than the diameter of the container body, the spacingbetween the vertical flanges 17, 17 being slightly greater than thediameter of the cover, so as to limit the extent of lateral movement ofthe covered containers C.

Empty containers C may be placed on the guides 14 at one side of theconveyor track, and filled containers removed from the guides at thesame side of the track. The containers are moved along the track by anendless conveyor chain 22 which slides along a channel-shaped guide 23mounted upon the horizontal support 12 below the guides and between thevertical supporting members 15. This chain meshes with a horizontallydisposed sprocket 24 driven by a suitable prime mover and interveningtransmission (not shown) at an appropriate speed. The chain guide 23 andthe roller chain 22 itself are disposed to one side of a centralvertical plane between the guides. At predetermined intervals along itslength, the chain has upper and lower arms 24, 24 projecting in alateral outward direction which receive vertical pins 25, these pinslying in the central vertical plane between the guides 14. The pinsproject upwardly to a substantial extent above the guides, the lowerportions each having a larger diameter collar 26 secured thereto whichextends upwardly to a location slightly above the horizontal plane ofthe guide or rail surfaces 16a, for a purpose described hereinbelow.

Each pin and collar 25, 26 is displaced from its adjacent pin and collara distance slightly exceeding the diameter of the container cover 10.When the containers C are placed on the guides on rails 14 between thepins, each collar 26 will engage the container body 11 below itsassociated cover; whereas, the pin portion thereabove will engage theperiphery of the cover itself. As the sprocket 24 rotates and moves theconveyor chain 22, the pins 25 and collars 26 will shift the containerbodies 11 and covers 10 longitudinally of the guides 14 and around theoval track.

On the other side of the mechanism from the container loading andunloading stations L, U, a cover elevating and lowering mechanism isprovided. As shown, opposed elevating bars or rails 30, 30 are securedto the guide bars 14, these bars being disposed in opposed relation toeach other and having vertical flanges 31 spaced from one another thesame distance as the vertical flanges 17 of the guide bars 14.Horizontal flanges 32 of the lifting bars face one another, but are ofless width than the horizontal flanges 16 of the .guide bars, thedistance between them being slightly greater than the diameter of acontainer body 11, but less than the diameter of a cover 10. The lowerends 32a of the horizontal bars 32 overlap the vertical flanges 17 ofthe guide bars 14, terminating in a position below the lower end 210 ofa cover skirt 21, so as to be engaged thereby (FIG. 3). The lifting bars30 are parallel to one another and are inclined upwardly with respect tothe direction of movement of the conveyor chain 22 therebelow andcontainer C, such that the movement of a covered container C along thelifting bars 30 will cause the cover 10 to engage the horizontal flanges32. As the vertical drive pin 25 moves the cover 10, and its collar 26moves the container body 11 along the lifting bars 30 and the horizontalguide bars 14, the cover 10 is elevated from the container body 11therebelow, such elevation continuing until the upper end or apex of thelifting bars 33 is reached, at which point the vertical lifting bars 30merge into 'similar descending or downwardly inclined lowering bars 34that terminate at the horizontal guide bars 14, with their horizontalflanges 32a lying alongside and within the vertical flanges 17 of theguide bars 14 and terminating below the cover 10 when fully disposedupon the container body 11.

Accordingly, it is evident that each collar 26 and its associated pin 25push the covered container body 11 and cover 10 from the loading stationL along the horizontal guide bars 14, the cover 10 engaging the inclinedhorizontal lifting flanges 32 of the lifting bars, which cause the coverto be elevated from the container body 11, whereupon continued movementof the container body 11 and cover 10 along the guide bars 14 and thedownwardly inclined descent bars 34-will cause the cover to descend oncemore and replace itself by gravity in covered position over thecontainer body 11. The conveyor then shifts the re-covered container Caround the oval track back to the unloading station U.

In the operation of the apparatus, the containers C are placed on thehorizontal guide bars or tracks 14, each collar 26 engaging a containerbody 11 below its cover 10, and the pin 25 engaging the periphery of thecover 10 itself. The radius of the pin 25 is less than the radius of thecollar 26 by an amount that approximates the difference in radii betweenthe cover periphery and the container body periphery, so that eachcollar 26 individually drives or pushes a container body 11 while thepin 25 drives or pushes the cover 10 thereabove, none of the pushingload being transmitted from the cover to the container body, or from thecontainer body to the cover while such arts are being pushed around thetrack. As described above, when the containers or Petri dishes aredisposed at the lower end of the inclined ramp 30, the covers engage thelifting flanges 32. As the pin 25 and its associated collar 26 push thecover and the container body along the lifting bars 30 and guide bars14, respectively, the cover is elevated to uncover the container bodytherebelow. When the upper portion 33 of the lifting bars is reached, asuitable medium 40 can be dispensed into the open container body 11through a suitable tube 41 and filling spout 42. When the desiredquantity of medium has been dispensed into the container body, fillingis discontinued. The continued movement of the conveyor 22 pushes thefilled container body 1 l and its cover 10 thereabove along the guidebars 14 and the descent bars 34, respectively, the cover descendingtoward the container body, which is always maintained in verticalalignment therewith, until the cover 10 drops over the container body 11into fully closed position thereover. The covered containers C with theculture medium, or other substance, therein are then conveyed by thepins 25 and collars 26 around the track to the unloading station U forremoval.

The pins 25 are collars 26 simultaneously engage the container coversand bodies, maintaining them in vertical synchronization and positionwith one another at all times. Since the cover 10 is always maintainedover the container body 11, fall-in of organisms or other foreignsubstances is prevented, so that a sterile container C remains in thatcondition, insuring that the sterile culture medium 40 introducedthereinto will be uncontaminated.

The apparatus can operate continuously, the medium being dispensed intothe uncovered dish at the appropriate time, with a pump (not shown), orthe like, synchronized with the conveyor 22, dispensing the desiredamount of medium into the uncovered dish. The mechanism foraccomplishing the filling of the containers forms no part of the presentinvention, and, for that reason, is not illustrated nor described indetail. The apparatus is preferably operated under clean bench"conditions by directing a sweep of sterile air, or other gas,continuously over the apparatus.

It is, accordingly, apparent that a relatively simple apparatus has beenprovided which insures the maintenance of the containers in a sterilecondition during uncovering of the containers, their filling, and theirrecovering. The cover is maintained vertically aligned with thecontainers atall times.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for lifting and lowering container covers from and oncontainer bodies of containers: means for supporting the containers withthe covers on the upper ends of the container bodies; means engageablewith both the container bodies and covers for moving the bodies andcovers along said supporting means; means engaging oppositesides of saidcovers for lifting the covers completely from the container bodies whilethe container bodies and covers are being moved along the supportingmeans; and means engaging opposite sides of said covers for enabling.the covers to lower into closed position over the container bodieswhile the container bodies are being moved along the supporting means.

2. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; and means for maintaining thecovers above and in vertical alignment with the container bodies duringlifting and lowering of the covers from and toward closed position onthe container bodies.

3. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; and means for dispensing adesired medium into the uncovered container bodies.

4. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; means for dispensing a desiredmedium into the uncovered container bodies; and means for maintainingthe covers in alignment with the container bodies during removal of thecovers from the bodies, dispensing of the medium into the uncoveredbodies, and replacement of the covers on the bodies.

5. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said lifting means comprisingliftingbars inclined to said supporting means and engageable withopposite sides of the covers; said lowering means comprising loweringbars inclined to said supporting means and engageable with oppositesides of the covers.

6. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said lifting means comprisingspaced lifting bars inclined upwardly from said supporting means in thedirection of move ment of said bodies and covers and engageable withopposite portions of the covers; said lowering means comprising spacedlowering bars inclined downwardly from the upper ends of said liftingbars in the direction of movement of said bodies and covers andengageable with opposite portions of the covers.

7. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; the covers each having a skirtfitting over the upper wall portion of an associated container body;said lifting means comprising lifting bars inclined to said supportingmeans and engageable with the lower edges of the skirts on oppositesides of the container bodies; said lowering means comprising loweringbars inclined to said supporting means and engageable with the loweredges of the skirts on opposite sides of the container bodies.

8. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; the covers each having a skirtfitting over the upper wall portion of an associated container body;said lifting means comprising spaced lifting bars inclined upwardly fromsaid supporting means in the direction of movement of said bodies andcovers and engageable with the lower edges of the skirts on oppositesides of the container bodies; said lowering means comprising loweringbars inclined downwardly from the upper ends of said lifting bars in thedirection of movement of said bodies and'covers and engageable with thelower-edges of the skirts on opposite sides of the container bodies.

9. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said lifting means comprisingspaced lifting bars inclined upwardly from said supporting means in thedirection of movement of said bodies and covers and engageable withopposite portions of the covers; said lowering means comprising spacedlowering bars inclined downwardly from the upper ends ofsaid liftingbars in the direction of movement of said bodies and covers andengageable with opposite portions of the covers; and means formaintaining the covers above and in vertical alignment with thecontainer bodies during lifting and lowering of the covers from andtoward closed position on the container bodies.

10. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; the covers each having a skirtfitting over the upper wall portion of an associated container body;said lifting means comprising spaced lifting bars inclined upwardly fromsaid supporting means in the direction of movement of said bodies andcovers and engageable with the lower edges of the skirts on oppositesides of the container bodies; said lowering means comprising loweringbars inclined downwardly from the upper ends of said lifting bars in thedirection of movement of said bodies and covers and engageable with thelower edges of the skirts on opposite sides of the container bodies; andmeans for maintaining the covers above and in vertical alignment withthe container bodies during lifting and lowering of the covers from andtoward closed position on the container bodies.

11. In apparatus for lifting and lowering container covers from and oncontainer bodies of containers, the covers having skirt portionsextending downwardly along the exterior of the bodies: spaced guidemembers on which the lower ends of the bodies rest; spaced liftingmembers above and inclined upwardly from said guide members; spacedlowering members above said guide members and inclined downwardly fromthe upper ends of said lifting members to said guide members; saidlifting and lowering members being engageable with the lower edges ofthe skirt portions to lift and lower the covers from and onto thecontainer bodies as the covers and container bodies are moved along theguide members and lifting and lowering members; and means engageablewith the perimeters of said .covers and container bodies forsimultaneously moving the covers and container bodies along the guidemembers and lifting and lowering members.

12. In apparatus for lifting and lowering container covers from and'oncontainer bodies of containers, the covers having skirt portionsextending downwardly along the exterior of the bodies: spaced guidemembers on which the lower ends of the bodies rest; spaced liftingmembers above and inclined upwardly from said guide members; spacedlowering members above said guide members and inclined downwardly fromthe upper ends of said lifting members to said guide members; saidlifting and lowering members being engageable with the lower edges ofthe skirt portions to lift and lower the covers from and onto thecontainer bodies as the covers and container bodies are moved along theguide members and lifting and lowering members; and means forsimultaneously moving the covers and containerbodies along the guidemembers and lifting and lowering members; said simultaneously movingmeans 14. in apparatus for lifting and lowering container covers fromand on container bodies of containers, the covers having skirt portionsextending downwardly along the exterior of the bodies: spaced guidemembers on which the lower ends'of the bodies rest; spaced liftingmembers above and inclined upwardly from said guide members; spacedlowering members above said guide members and inclined downwardly fromthe upper ends of said lifting members to said guide members; saidlifting and lowering members being engageable with the lower edges ofthe skirt portions to lift and lower the covers from and onto thecontainer bodies as the covers and container bodies are moved along theguide members and lifting and lowering members; and means forsimultaneously moving the covers and container bodies along the guidemembers and lifting and lowering members; said simultaneously movingmeans including vertical pins extending between said guide members,lifting members and lower members and engageable with the perimeters ofthe covers only, and collars on said pins between said guide members andengageable with the perimeters of the bodies only.

15. In apparatus for lifting and lowering container covers from and oncontainer bodies of containers, the covers having skirt portionsextending downwardly along the exterior of the bodies: spaced guidemembers i upper ends of said lifting members to said guide members; saidlifting and lowering members being engageable with the lower edges ofthe skirt portions to lift and lower the covers from and onto thecontainer bodies as the covers and container bodies are moved along theguide members and lifting and lowering members; and means forsimultaneously moving the covers and container bodies along the guidemembers and lifting and lowering members; said moving means including aconveyor member, vertical pins secured to said conveyor member andextending between said guide members, lifting members and loweringmembers and engageable with the perimeters of the covers only, andcollars on said pins between said guide members and engageable with theperimeters of the bodies only.

16. In apparatus as defined in claim 15; and means for dispensing adesired medium into each container body when its associated cover iselevated above the body.

1. In apparatus for lifting and lowering container covers from and oncontainer bodies of containers: means for supporting the containers withthe covers on the upper ends of the container bodies; means engageablewith both the container bodies and covers for moving the bodies andcovers along said supporting means; means engaging opposite sides ofsaid covers for lifting the covers completely from the container bodieswhile the container bodies and covers are being moved along thesupporting means; and means engaging opposite sides of said covers forenabling the covers to lower into closed position over the containerbodies while the container bodies are being moved along the supportingmeans.
 1. In apparatus for lifting and lowering container covers fromand on container bodies of containers: means for supporting thecontainers with the covers on the upper ends of the container bodies;means engageable with both the container bodies and covers for movingthe bodies and covers along said supporting means; means engagingopposite sides of said covers for lifting the covers completely from thecontainer bodies while the container bodies and covers are being movedalong the supporting means; and means engaging opposite sides of saidcovers for enabling the covers to lower into closed position over thecontainer bodies while the container bodies are being moved along thesupporting means.
 2. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; and means formaintaining the covers above and in vertical alignment with thecontainer bodies during lifting and lowering of the covers from andtoward closed position on the container bodies.
 3. In apparatus asdefined in claim 1; and means for dispensing a desired medium into theuncovered container bodies.
 4. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; meansfor dispensing a desired medium into the uncovered container bodies; andmeans for maintaining the covers in alignment with the container bodiesduring removal of the covers from the bodies, dispensing of the mediuminto the uncovered bodies, and replacement of the covers on the bodies.5. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said lifting means comprisinglifting bars inclined to said supporting means and engageable withopposite sides of the covers; said lowering means comprising loweringbars inclined to said supporting means and engageable with oppositesides of the covers.
 6. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said liftingmeans comprising spaced lifting bars inclined upwardly from saidsupporting means in the direction of movement of said bodies and coversand engageable with opposite portions of the covers; said lowering meanscomprising spaced lowering bars inclined downwardly from the upper endsof said lifting bars in the direction of movement of said bodies andcovers and engageable wIth opposite portions of the covers.
 7. Inapparatus as defined in claim 1; the covers each having a skirt fittingover the upper wall portion of an associated container body; saidlifting means comprising lifting bars inclined to said supporting meansand engageable with the lower edges of the skirts on opposite sides ofthe container bodies; said lowering means comprising lowering barsinclined to said supporting means and engageable with the lower edges ofthe skirts on opposite sides of the container bodies.
 8. In apparatus asdefined in claim 1; the covers each having a skirt fitting over theupper wall portion of an associated container body; said lifting meanscomprising spaced lifting bars inclined upwardly from said supportingmeans in the direction of movement of said bodies and covers andengageable with the lower edges of the skirts on opposite sides of thecontainer bodies; said lowering means comprising lowering bars inclineddownwardly from the upper ends of said lifting bars in the direction ofmovement of said bodies and covers and engageable with the lower edgesof the skirts on opposite sides of the container bodies.
 9. In apparatusas defined in claim 1; said lifting means comprising spaced lifting barsinclined upwardly from said supporting means in the direction ofmovement of said bodies and covers and engageable with opposite portionsof the covers; said lowering means comprising spaced lowering barsinclined downwardly from the upper ends of said lifting bars in thedirection of movement of said bodies and covers and engageable withopposite portions of the covers; and means for maintaining the coversabove and in vertical alignment with the container bodies during liftingand lowering of the covers from and toward closed position on thecontainer bodies.
 10. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; the coverseach having a skirt fitting over the upper wall portion of an associatedcontainer body; said lifting means comprising spaced lifting barsinclined upwardly from said supporting means in the direction ofmovement of said bodies and covers and engageable with the lower edgesof the skirts on opposite sides of the container bodies; said loweringmeans comprising lowering bars inclined downwardly from the upper endsof said lifting bars in the direction of movement of said bodies andcovers and engageable with the lower edges of the skirts on oppositesides of the container bodies; and means for maintaining the coversabove and in vertical alignment with the container bodies during liftingand lowering of the covers from and toward closed position on thecontainer bodies.
 11. In apparatus for lifting and lowering containercovers from and on container bodies of containers, the covers havingskirt portions extending downwardly along the exterior of the bodies:spaced guide members on which the lower ends of the bodies rest; spacedlifting members above and inclined upwardly from said guide members;spaced lowering members above said guide members and inclined downwardlyfrom the upper ends of said lifting members to said guide members; saidlifting and lowering members being engageable with the lower edges ofthe skirt portions to lift and lower the covers from and onto thecontainer bodies as the covers and container bodies are moved along theguide members and lifting and lowering members; and means engageablewith the perimeters of said covers and container bodies forsimultaneously moving the covers and container bodies along the guidemembers and lifting and lowering members.
 12. In apparatus for liftingand lowering container covers from and on container bodies ofcontainers, the covers having skirt portions extending downwardly alongthe exterior of the bodies: spaced guide members on which the lower endsof the bodies rest; spaced lifting members above and inclined upwardlyfrom said guide members; spaced lowering members above said guidemembers and inclined downwardly from the upper ends of said liftingmembers to said guide members; said lifting and lowering members beingengageable with the lower edges of the skirt portions to lift and lowerthe covers from and onto the container bodies as the covers andcontainer bodies are moved along the guide members and lifting andlowering members; and means for simultaneously moving the covers andcontainer bodies along the guide members and lifting and loweringmembers; said simultaneously moving means including generally verticallydisposed members engageable with the perimeters of the covers and bodiesto maintain the covers above and in vertical alignment with the bodiesduring lifting and lowering of the covers from and onto the bodies. 13.In apparatus as defined in claim 12; said vertically disposed memberscomprising first portions engaging the perimeters of the bodies only andsecond portions engaging the perimeters of the covers only.
 14. Inapparatus for lifting and lowering container covers from and oncontainer bodies of containers, the covers having skirt portionsextending downwardly along the exterior of the bodies: spaced guidemembers on which the lower ends of the bodies rest; spaced liftingmembers above and inclined upwardly from said guide members; spacedlowering members above said guide members and inclined downwardly fromthe upper ends of said lifting members to said guide members; saidlifting and lowering members being engageable with the lower edges ofthe skirt portions to lift and lower the covers from and onto thecontainer bodies as the covers and container bodies are moved along theguide members and lifting and lowering members; and means forsimultaneously moving the covers and container bodies along the guidemembers and lifting and lowering members; said simultaneously movingmeans including vertical pins extending between said guide members,lifting members and lower members and engageable with the perimeters ofthe covers only, and collars on said pins between said guide members andengageable with the perimeters of the bodies only.
 15. In apparatus forlifting and lowering container covers from and on container bodies ofcontainers, the covers having skirt portions extending downwardly alongthe exterior of the bodies: spaced guide members on which the lower endsof the bodies rest; spaced lifting members above and inclined upwardlyfrom said guide members; spaced lowering members above said guidemembers and inclined downwardly from the upper ends of said liftingmembers to said guide members; said lifting and lowering members beingengageable with the lower edges of the skirt portions to lift and lowerthe covers from and onto the container bodies as the covers andcontainer bodies are moved along the guide members and lifting andlowering members; and means for simultaneously moving the covers andcontainer bodies along the guide members and lifting and loweringmembers; said moving means including a conveyor member, vertical pinssecured to said conveyor member and extending between said guidemembers, lifting members and lowering members and engageable with theperimeters of the covers only, and collars on said pins between saidguide members and engageable with the perimeters of the bodies only.